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The Rice Thresher
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by Jeff Lin for the thresher
The blanket tax gives RBT $4 per student, amounting to about $10,000 per year for the organization. "Last year was a big year," Executive Director Travis Johnson said. "We did a lot of coverage on the KTRU shutdown, and I think we proved to the student body that $4 a year is a small price to pay for the potential that we have." Among the goals for this year is increasing student participation in the station. Currently, the staff consists of about 10 core people, with another 10 who are peripherally involved. To increase interest, RBT has launched an improved Web site (http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~rbt), which includes a calendar where students and faculty are free to post information about events and jobs. The Web site will also include a new feature beginning next semester, "Video On Demand," that allows the public to vote and decide which program will air. RBT has sent recruiting e-mails to incoming freshmen with media experience, and a recruiting meeting will be held sometime during the next week. Although RBT has not yet produced any programming this year, they plan to air shows on Channel 11 by the end of this week. Next week, RBT plans to broadcast a recruiting show on its old station explaining the new situation and trying to get people involved. "The money will also help us with greater publicity, as well as the ability to show the potential that we have," Jones College junior Julie Tam, producer, director and anchor of "Owl's Eye News," said. "Hopefully, that will bring attention to our shows and to what we do." In the past, equipment limitations have relegated RBT to what its members call one of the last options among Rice media. In their inaugural year, RBT was given six video cameras, but only four still function. The increase in funding will allow RBT to purchase new equipment, including cameras, set materials and computers they hope will provide a more rewarding experience for students involved. The station has already spent $4,000 on a video server and a computer that will aid in the editing process. The video server will allow the staff to decide scheduling remotely and to easily access video files. RBT also expects to acquire various materials from Fox Sports Southwest in Houston, which has given them access to their used equipment. Funding will go towards equipment for the next seven years as RBT attempts to lay a foundation for future programming. For this year, suggested additions to student programming have included a Rice "Blind Date" show, variety shows, a movie review show and a sketch comedy show. "Beyond the Hedges," a show that premiered last semester reviewing different events around Houston, will return this year. "Because any student can come in with an idea and have it aired, we feel that we are tapping into the creativity of all the students on campus for our shows and ideas," Tony Pule, who has worked for RBT since its inception in 1997, said. This year will be the first RBT will have an exclusive, yet-to-be-determined channel. In the past, Channel 11 was shared with the Research Channel, which was simulcast on four different stations. Information Technology will give the new channel to RBT before the end of the month, and RBT will continue to air promotional messages on Channel 11 until further notice. As a trial run, RBT will pay a service for the right to air movies during the second semester. To compete with movie channels already accessible on campus, the movies will be tailored to Rice events and subject matter. "I think the changes will add a lot more student interest," Business Manager Richard Adams said. "Having our own channel this year will let us put out as many shows as we want, and hopefully we'll be able to offer viewers something every day as opposed to once a week." The station has taken over the location that was formerly the Owlnet Lab in the Rice Memorial Center. RBT will also have access to a downstairs closet and a basement location, and will have limited access to the second-floor conference room for a set. The move has delayed the airing of programming. RBT's broadcasts rely on wiring connections with Mudd Lab and Information Technology that have yet to be created. Johnson estimates it may be four weeks before enough equipment is set up for the station to be fully operational, although broadcasts on Channel 11 may begin as soon as this week. "We're already up and running as far as getting things onto our old station, but we agreed that we would start anew with everything ready at once," Adams, a Will Rice College sophomore, said. Changes will be made not only to the way RBT is run, but also to how it is identified. A campus-wide contest will be held to rename the station. The station's staff remains confident the additional funding will elevate it to new heights. "There's a faction out there that thinks we're just five people in a little office making TV shows, but we have a lot of potential," Johnson, a Hanszen College junior, said. "Give us a chance before you make your judgments."
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